EP0997278A2 - Tintenstrahlvorrichtung, Verfahren zur Wiederherstellung einer Tintenstrahlvorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes - Google Patents

Tintenstrahlvorrichtung, Verfahren zur Wiederherstellung einer Tintenstrahlvorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0997278A2
EP0997278A2 EP99308453A EP99308453A EP0997278A2 EP 0997278 A2 EP0997278 A2 EP 0997278A2 EP 99308453 A EP99308453 A EP 99308453A EP 99308453 A EP99308453 A EP 99308453A EP 0997278 A2 EP0997278 A2 EP 0997278A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
jet printing
electrothermal transducers
printing head
ejecting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99308453A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0997278B1 (de
EP0997278A3 (de
Inventor
Ryoji Inoue
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Publication of EP0997278A2 publication Critical patent/EP0997278A2/de
Publication of EP0997278A3 publication Critical patent/EP0997278A3/de
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Publication of EP0997278B1 publication Critical patent/EP0997278B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04533—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling a head having several actuators per chamber
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04573—Timing; Delays
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0458—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04588—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits using a specific waveform
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04596—Non-ejecting pulses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ink-jet printing apparatus, an ejection recovery method for the ink-jet printing apparatus, and a fabrication method of an ink-jet printing head.
  • the present invention intends for an ink-jet printing head, ink-jet printing head cartridge, and ink-jet printing apparatus to be used for a printer or video printer serving as an output terminal of a copying machine, a facsimile, a word processor, or a host computer.
  • the present invention intends for an ink-jet printing head having a substrate on which an electrothermal device for generating thermal energy used as the energy for ejecting ink is formed and a printing apparatus using the printing head.
  • the concept of printing includes supply of ink (printing) to all ink supports to which ink is supplied such as cloth, yarn, paper, and sheet and moreover, includes not only a meaningful picture such as a character but also a pattern picture.
  • a printing apparatus includes every type of information processor or a printer serving as an output unit of the information processor and the present invention can be applied to these purposes.
  • a liquid-jet printing method performs printing by forming flying droplets of a printing liquid such as ink and attaching the droplets to a printing media to be printed such as paper or the like.
  • a liquid-jet printing apparatus using the above printing method realizes low-noise high-speed printing and high-density printing.
  • the printing apparatus can be downsized because developing or fixing process is unnecessary for plain paper.
  • this type of liquid-jet printing apparatus is particularly noticed because the productivity of the printing apparatus is high under mass production and the printing apparatus manufacturing cost is low.
  • a liquid-jet printing head using thermal energy is provided with an electrothermal transducer as means for heating a printing liquid. That is, the printing head has an exothermic resistor (hereafter referred to as "heater") capable of heating the printing liquid by producing heat when an electric signal is applied and a pair of electrodes for applying an electric signal to the exothermic resistor.
  • the printing liquid is bubbled due to the heat generated by the heater and is ejected from an ink ejection port by the bubbling energy.
  • the printing liquid used in the above case is generally configured by a printing component such as a pigment or dye and water for dissolving or dispersing the printing component or a solvent component comprising water and a water-soluble organic solvent.
  • a heating limit for sudden evaporation ranges between 250 and 350 °C.
  • the heating limit temperature is equal to a temperature at which vapor is produced due to the calorie conducted to the printing liquid through a very thin and stable vapor film between the surface of the heater and the printing liquid. Therefore, to form flying droplets and record them to a printing media to be printed by using the printing liquid having the above temperature characteristic, and supplying an electric signal to the heater and bubbling the printing liquid and thereby evaporating the printing liquid, the heater is repeatedly heated at a temperature in the range from ambient temperature up to 300 to 800°C each time when an electric signal is supplied.
  • a heater and an electrode or the like are formed in accordance with a semiconductor process.
  • a wiring portion made of a metal serving as an electrical good conductor e.g. electrode made of Al, Au, Ag, or Cu
  • an exothermic resistor e.g. heat-resistant resistor made of HfB 2 , ZrB 2 , TaN 2 , or TaSi
  • a substrate e.g. made of Si, glass, or ceramic
  • an intermediate layer e.g. made of Ti or Cr
  • the wiring portion is formed by laminating the intermediate layer so as to be exposed in part and the exposed portion servers as a heater.
  • a protective film superior in heat resistance and printing-liquid cutoff characteristic for preventing electrolytic corrosion or oxidation due to the printing liquid is formed on the heater and electrode at need.
  • the above printing head ejects a printing liquid by applying an electric signal corresponding to a printing signal to a heater and repeatedly making the heater produce heat at a high temperature to heat the printing liquid.
  • treatments for improving the printing characteristics under printing are proposed.
  • a preferable and stable ink ejecting condition can always be obtained even in long-time printing by the preliminary ejecting process for ejecting ink not contributing to printing of pictures from the ink-jet printing head mounted on an ink-jet printing apparatus, and by heating a heater material in the aging process when the ink-jet printing head is fabricated.
  • an ink-jet printing apparatus To express a halftone by an ink-jet printing apparatus, there is a method of expressing the halftone in accordance with the number of ink droplets applied to predetermined pixels on a printing medium (false halftone expression in accordance with binary numbers). Moreover, there is another method of expressing a halftone by using a plurality of printing heads with ejecting quantities different from each other or a plurality of printing heads capable of ejecting inks with densities different from each other and thereby, selecting and driving a printing head in accordance with the halftone. In case of these methods, however, it may be impossible to greatly raise the reliquid or a printing apparatus may be increased in size because a plurality of printing heads are used. Therefore, an ink-jet printing apparatus is requested which requires less space and realizes high-reliquid printing at a low cost by changing eject quantities of one printing head at various levels.
  • Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 62-48585 (1987) discloses a gradation printing method of realizing high-picture-quality printing by changing sizes of ejected ink droplets.
  • a plurality of heaters with areas different from each other are arranged in an ink passage to independently control each heater.
  • a small-droplet-ejecting heater having a small heater area easily influences ink ejection even due to a small foreign matter on the heater surface. Therefore, there are some cases in which the existing preliminary ejecting process or heating in the aging process is insufficient to stably eject small droplets. Moreover, the preliminary ejecting process or heating in the aging process has an advantage of removing a foreign matter or the like from the surface of a heater. In the case of a multiple-heater ink-jet printing head, however, when above preliminary ejecting process or heating in the aging process is performed by simultaneously driving a plurality of heaters, the position where a bubble for ejecting ink disappear is frequently deviated from the center of a heater. Therefore, the cavitation effect for removing burnt deposits or foreign matters from the surface of a heater frequently lowers.
  • an ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by using an ink-jet printing head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port communicating with an ink passage, and capable of generating a bubble in ink of the ink passage by the heat produced by a plurality of electrothermal transducers set to the ink passage, wherein control means is included which changes shift values of the heat-producing timings of the electrothermal transducers by changing shift values of driving signals to be applied to the electrothermal transducers when ejecting the ink not contributing to printing of the image from the ink-jet printing head to recover an ink ejecting condition.
  • an ejection recovery method for an ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by using an ink-jet printing head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port communicating with an ink passage, and capable of generating a bubble in ink of the ink passage by the heat produced by a plurality of electrothermal transducers set to the ink passage comprising the step of: changing shift values of driving signals to be applied to a plurality of electrothermal transducers and thereby changing shift values of heat-producing timings of the electrothermal transducers when performing ejection recovery for recovering an ink ejecting condition by ejecting the ink not contributing to printing of the image from the ink-jet printing head.
  • a fabrication method of an ink-jet printing head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port communicating with an ink passage by generating a bubble in the ink of an ink passage by the heat produced by a plurality of electrothermal transducers set to the ink passage, comprising the step of: changing shift values of driving signals to be applied to the electrothermal transducers and thereby changing shift values of heat-producing timings of the electrothermal transducers when ejecting ink from the ink-jet printing head for aging process.
  • an ink-jet printing head provided with a plurality of electrothermal transducers for one ink passage shifts the application timing of a driving signal to be applied to each of the electrothermal transducers in the ejection recovery of an ink-jet printing head while the head is set to an ink-jet printing apparatus or the aging of the head while being fabricated.
  • ink is described as a liquid to be ejected.
  • a liquid is not restricted to ink. Any liquid can be used as long as the liquid can be ejected by using the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an ink passage of the printing head 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • a plurality of ink passages 12 are arranged on the printing head 1 in parallel at a density of 360 dpi and each ejection port 11 communicates with a common liquid chamber 13. Moreover, each ink passage 12 is provided with two heaters (electrothermal transducers) SH1 and SH2.
  • the length L of the heater SH1 and that of the heater SH2 are equal to 95 ⁇ m.
  • the width W1 of the heater SH1 is 30 ⁇ m and the width W2 of the heater SH2 is 30 ⁇ m.
  • the width W3 of each ink passage 12 is set to 58 ⁇ m and the height of it is set to 40 ⁇ m.
  • the ink supplied from an ink tank (not illustrated) is temporarily stored in the liquid chamber 13 and then enters each ink passage 12 in accordance with capillarity to form a meniscus at the ejection port 11. Thereby, the ink passages 12 are filled with ink.
  • a driving pulse to the heaters SH1 and SH2 under the above state to make the heaters produce heat and providing thermal energy for the ink a state change followed by a sudden volume change (generating a bubble) occurs in the ink and the ink is ejected from the ejection port 11 by an action force according to the state change.
  • the ink-jet printing head 1 used for this embodiment makes it possible to obtain a higher-definition picture by changing ejecting quantities of ink when driving only the heater SH1 and when driving two heaters SH1 and SH2 at the same time.
  • Fig. 2 is an illustration showing the preliminary ejection driving studied for this embodiment, in which ⁇ T denotes a shift value.
  • Fig. 3A shows the relation between the shift value ⁇ T, the number of driving pulses for preliminary ejecting, and the cavitation position when performing the preliminary ejecting for one time of preliminary ejecting.
  • Fig. 3B is an illustration showing the cavitation positions a ⁇ to e ⁇ .
  • ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port 11 100 times for one-time preliminary ejecting.
  • the application timing of every 100 driving pulses to be applied to the heaters SH1 and SH2 is divided into five stages and the five stages are shifted from each other. That is, as for the first-stage 20 pulses to be applied to the heaters SH1 and SH2, driving pulses are applied to the heater SH2 and then, after 5 ⁇ sec passes, driving pulses are applied to the heater SH1. As for the next second-stage 20 pulses, the shift value is set to 2 ⁇ sec. The next third-stage 20 pulses are applied to the heaters SH1 and SH2 at the same time.
  • next fourth-stage 20 pulses driving pulses are applied to the heater SH2 2 ⁇ sec after applying driving pulses to the heater SH1.
  • the shift value is set to 5 ⁇ sec.
  • Fig. 4 shows the relation between the change of ink ejecting quantities and the number of driving pulses to be applied to the ink-jet printing head 1.
  • Symbol A in Fig. 4 denotes the change characteristic of a conventional example and B denotes the change characteristic of this embodiment and both perform preliminary ejecting by interrupting the operation for printing at a preset preliminary-ejecting interval similarly to the case of conventional preliminary ejecting.
  • the preliminary ejection driving in the former conventional case applies driving pulses (electric signals) to the heaters SH1 and SH2 at the same time.
  • the latter case of this embodiment performs preliminary ejecting in accordance with the above preliminary ejection driving for causing shift rates of driving timing of heaters SH1 and SH2 to be changed as described previously.
  • the ink ejecting quantity starts decreasing after the number of driving pulses to be applied exceeds 10 5 and the ink ejecting quantity is decreased by 20% or more when the number of driving pulses to be applied reaches 10 7 .
  • the ink ejecting quantity is not decreased. This is probably because cavitation has effectively occurred and foreign matters are removed from the surface of the heater.
  • the heater material is heated in the aging process under fabrication in accordance with the heater driving for causing shift values of driving timing of the heaters to be changed in the case of this embodiment.
  • an image is printed by dots formed due to ink droplet impact by using the ink-jet printing head immediately after fabricated in accordance with the above treatment.
  • a least square line serving as a criterion is obtained from vertical and horizontal lines of the printed image respectively and the shift of a dot formed due to ink droplet impact from a least square line is measured through the observation using a microscope.
  • Fig. 5 shows five-stage evaluation results of printing quality from "1 (bad)" to "5 (good)” in accordance with the above ink-droplet impact point error measuring method.
  • the printing quality at the initial stage after fabrication is improved by performing the aging (characteristic D in Fig. 5) of the heater driving with changed shift values of application timing of this embodiment compared to the case of the conventional aging (characteristic C in Fig. 5) in accordance with the simultaneous timing driving of a plurality of heaters.
  • This is probably because a cavitation force generated due to disappearance of a bubble produced on the surface of a heater when ink is ejected occurs in a larger range on the surface of the heater in accordance with the heater driving whose timing is shifted in the case of this embodiment, the cavitation force removes foreign matters from the surface of the heater when an ink-jet printing head is fabricated, and thereby it is possible to further stably ejecting ink.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view of an ink passage of the ink-jet printing head of a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • widths W1 and W2 of the heaters SH1 and SH2 are 20 ⁇ m and areas of the heaters are equal to each other. Moreover, these two heaters SH1 and SH2 are located at equal distance from an ejection port 11. Other dimensions are the same as the case of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 shows the relation between the change of ink ejecting quantities and the number of driving pulses to be applied to an ink-jet printing head similarly to the case of Fig. 4 of the above embodiment.
  • the ejecting quantity of ink starts decreasing after the number of driving pulses to be applied exceeds 10 5 , and decreases by 30% or more when the number of driving pulses to be applied reaches 10 7 .
  • decrease of ink ejecting quantity is controlled to 10%.
  • Fig. 7A shows an illustration of the relation between shift value ⁇ T and cavitation position and Fig. 7B shows those cavitation positions.
  • the heaters SH1 and SH2 are arranged in parallel with the ejection port 11, it is difficult to increase widths of the heaters SH1 and SH2. Therefore, even if driving with shifted application timing of driving pulses is performed, it is difficult to greatly change cavitation positions and the effect is slightly small compared to the case of the first embodiment.
  • burnt deposits can be completely removed by the change of cavitation positions.
  • the arrangement of heaters and the number of heaters arranged are not particularly restricted. Moreover, it is permitted to use a plurality of heaters with different sizes. Furthermore, it is permitted to make widths and sizes of heater driving pulses different from each other correspondingly to the heat produced by each heater. Furthermore, it is permitted to change at least the application start timings of driving pulses to a plurality of heaters in the ejection recovery process and aging process.
  • Fig. 11 shows a general configuration of an ink-jet printing apparatus according to the present invention.
  • a carriage 400 slidably engages with two guide shafts 304 and 305 extending in parallel with each other.
  • the carriage 400 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction shown by an arrow A along the guide shafts 304 and 305 by a driving motor (not illustrated) and a driving-force transfer mechanism (not illustrated) such as a belt or the like for transferring the driving force.
  • the above-described printing head and an ink tank 151 serving as an ink vessel for storing the ink used for the head are mounted on the carriage 400.
  • ink ejection ports 11 same as the above-described printing head 1 are formed on the face of the printing head facing a sheet 306 serving as a printing medium so as to be arranged along the carrying direction of a sheet 306.
  • an ink passage 12 communicating with each ejection port 11 is formed on the printing head and the heaters (electrothermal transducers) SH1 and SH2 for producing the thermal energy for ejecting ink are provided correspondingly to each ink passage 12.
  • the sheet 306 is inserted through an insertion port 311 formed at the front end of the printing apparatus, the carrying direction of the sheet 306 is inverted, and the sheet 306 is carried under the moving area of the carriage 400 along the sub-scanning direction shown by the arrow B perpendicular to the main scanning direction A by a feed roller 309.
  • the printing head mounted on the carriage 400 prints an image in a printing area on the sheet 306 supported by a platen 308 while the head moves.
  • the entire sheet 306 is printed while the printing operation for one line according to the movement of the carriage 400, that is, the printing operation at the width corresponding to the width of the ejection port arrangement on the printing head and the feed operation for the sheet 306 are alternately repeated.
  • the printed sheet 306 is ejected to the front of the printing apparatus.
  • a recovery-system unit 310 capable of facing the bottom of each printing head on the carriage 400 is provided for the left end of an area in which the carriage 400 can move.
  • the recovery-system unit 310 makes it possible to perform the operation for capping the ejection port of each printing head and the operation for drawing ink from the ejection port of each printing head while printing is not performed.
  • a predetermined position at the left end side of the movable area of the carriage 400 is set as the home position of each printing head.
  • the recovery-system unit 310 is able to receive the ink preliminarily ejected from a printing head by a cap and then to treat the ink as waste ink.
  • an operation section 307 provided with a switch and a display element is set to the right end of the printing apparatus.
  • the switch is used to turn on/off the power supply of the printing apparatus or set various printing modes and the display element displays various states of the printing apparatus.
  • the present invention achieves distinct effect when applied to a printing head or a printing apparatus which has means for generating thermal energy such as electrothermal transducers or laser light, and which causes changes in ink by the thermal energy so as to eject ink. This is because such a system can achieve a high density and high reliquid printing.
  • the on-demand type apparatus has electrothermal transducers, each disposed on a sheet or liquid passage that retains liquid (ink), and operates as follows: first, one or more drive signals are applied to the electrothermal transducers to cause thermal energy corresponding to printing information; second, the thermal energy induces sudden temperature rise that exceeds the nucleate boiling so as to cause the film boiling on heating portions of the printing head; and third, bubbles are grown in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signals. By using the growth and collapse of the bubbles, the ink is expelled from at least one of the ink ejection orifices of the head to form one or more ink drops.
  • the drive signal in the form of a pulse is preferable because the growth and collapse of the bubbles can be achieved instantaneously and suitably by this form of drive signal.
  • a drive signal in the form of a pulse those described in U.S. patent Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are preferable.
  • the rate of temperature rise of the heating portions described in U.S. patent No. 4,313,124 be adopted to achieve better printing.
  • U.S. patent Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600 disclose the following structure of a printing head, which is incorporated to the present invention: this structure includes heating portions disposed on bent portions in addition to a combination of the ejection orifices, liquid passages and the electrothermal transducers disclosed in the above patents. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to structures disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open Nos. 59-123670 (1984) and 59-138461 (1984) in order to achieve similar effects.
  • the former discloses a structure in which a slit common to all the electrothermal transducers is used as ejection orifices of the electrothermal transducers, and the latter discloses a structure in which openings for absorbing pressure waves caused by thermal energy are formed corresponding to the ejection orifices.
  • the present invention can be also applied to a so-called full-line type printing head whose length equals the maximum length across a printing medium.
  • a printing head may consists of a plurality of printing heads combined together, or one integrally arranged printing head.
  • the present invention can be applied to various serial type printing heads: a printing head fixed to the main assembly of a printing apparatus; a conveniently replaceable chip type printing head which, when loaded on the main assembly of a printing apparatus, is electrically connected to the main assembly, and is supplied with ink therefrom; and a cartridge type printing head integrally including an ink reservoir.
  • a recovery system or a preliminary auxiliary system for a printing head as a constituent of the printing apparatus because they serve to make the effect of the present invention more reliable.
  • the recovery system are a capping means and a cleaning means for the printing head, and a pressure or suction means for the printing head.
  • the preliminary auxiliary system are a preliminary heating means utilizing electrothermal transducers or a combination of other heater elements and the electrothermal transducers, and a means for carrying out preliminary ejection of ink independently of the ejection for printing. These systems are effective for reliable printing.
  • the number and type of printing heads to be mounted on a printing apparatus can be also changed. For example, only one printing head corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of printing heads corresponding to a plurality of inks different in color or concentration can be used.
  • the present invention can be effectively applied to an apparatus having at least one of the monochromatic, multi-color and full-color modes.
  • the monochromatic mode performs printing by using only one major color such as black.
  • the multi-color mode carries out printing by using different color inks, and the full-color mode performs printing by color mixing.
  • inks that are liquid when the printing signal is applied can be used: for example, inks can be employed that solidify at a temperature lower than the room temperature and are softened or liquefied in the room temperature. This is because in the ink jet system, the ink is generally temperature adjusted in a range of 30°C - 70°C so that the viscosity of the ink is maintained at such a value that the ink can be ejected reliably.
  • the present invention can be applied to such apparatus where the ink is liquefied just before the ejection by the thermal energy as follows so that the ink is expelled from the orifices in the liquid state, and then begins to solidify on hitting the printing medium, thereby preventing the ink evaporation: the ink is transformed from solid to liquid state by positively utilizing the thermal energy which would otherwise cause the temperature rise; or the ink, which is dry when left in air, is liquefied in response to the thermal energy of the printing signal.
  • the ink may be retained in recesses or through holes formed in a porous sheet as liquid or solid substances so that the ink faces the electrothermal transducers as described in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open Nos. 54-56847 (1979) or 60-71260 (1985).
  • the present invention is most effective when it uses the film boiling phenomenon to expel the ink.
  • the ink jet printing apparatus of the present invention can be employed not only as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a computer, but also as an output device of a copying machine including a reader, and as an output device of a facsimile apparatus having a transmission and receiving function.

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  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
EP99308453A 1998-10-27 1999-10-26 Tintenstrahlvorrichtung, Verfahren zur Wiederherstellung einer Tintenstrahlvorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes Expired - Lifetime EP0997278B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP30495398 1998-10-27
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EP0997278A2 true EP0997278A2 (de) 2000-05-03
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EP0997278B1 (de) 2012-05-23
EP0997278A3 (de) 2000-10-11

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